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Legendary science fiction author Kevin J. Anderson, author Steve Rzasa, WordFire Press, and the makers of Takamo Universe have joined forces to transform the Takamo game universe into written word.

You can help bring classic science fiction into the world of sci fi video games by supporting the publication, distribution, and promotion of the first and second novels in the “Kevin J. Anderson Presents” series: EMPIRE'S RIFT and STRIFE'S COST by Steve Rzasa.

Starting in the 1980s as a play-by-mail game and now being redeveloped into a massive multiplayer online game, Takamo Universe offers gamers and readers a chance to be part of an epic universe.

By introducing talented authors to the storylines and game history in Takamo Universe, the “Kevin J. Anderson Presents” series will achieve something far more vivid and imaginative than any video game or novel has ever created on its own.

The series will not only bring sci fi fans entertaining fiction and game content, the series also offers talented writers a chance to work with internationally acclaimed best-selling author Kevin J. Anderson.

The Takamo Universe is vast and ever-expanding with thousands of characters, millions of worlds, and entire galaxies full of detail and life. Participating writers will be able to pull from all of those sources to create robust and relevant stories.

The first novel in the series is EMPIRE'S RIFT by Steve Rzasa, seasoned science fiction author and Hugo Award nominee. EMPIRE'S RIFT is the linchpin novel for the entire Takamo gaming universe.

"In the Senarias Spiral Arm lies a region beyond the Great Desert Rift of Orion called the Rimward Reaches. This vast area is where the great empires of Naplia, Audria, the Briddarri Kingdom and many smaller alien empires fought a series of wars for the possession of millions of star systems.

By the late 27th Century the fighting had spilled over into the human territories of this region, and drastic action forced the Naplians to invade the Terran Empire in 2678. Their target: the provincial capital in the Baedecker star system."

The second novel in the series is STRIFE'S COST, sequel to EMPIRE'S RIFT, by Steve Rzasa.

"Strife’s Cost: Humanity at War. The interstellar war between the Naplian Empire and the Briddarri-led Grand Alliance grins on. Three years after the invasion of the Baedecker star system, a stalemate ties up Terran forces in the Great Desert Rift, parsecs beyond the front lines, as they help the Grand Alliance harass Naplian supply lines.

Terran Intelligence has picked one of their best officers for a secret mission: to join a team of specialists on classified mission to the neighboring Union of Planets, a mission that will bring the Union into the war on the side of the Alliance. With an android spy and a legendary thief on his side, he finds himself drawn into a web of deceit and danger that casts doubt on his role in the conflict.

Truppen cybernetic warriors battle against the Naplians on behalf of the Briddarri, but the disappearance of many of their Truppen brethren is troubling. With help from old allies, the Truppen hunt for the truth behind the vanished units. What they find will call their allegiance into question, and threaten everything they are fighting for.

Someone is building a sinister force. Someone is willing to unleash a dark age on the galaxy in order to win the war."

Steve Rzasa has already completed the manuscript of EMPIRE'S RIFT and sent it off to WordFire Press for the final publication phase. We have already paid fees toward editing, cover art, and over half of the publication costs. On top of that, Steve is nearly finished with the first draft of the sequel to EMPIRE'S RIFT. That sequel is slated for one of the stretch goal novels in the series.

We have reached our $3,500 goal, which means that we can complete the final publication, distribution, and marketing of the book in ebook and paperback format. You could have the paperback or ebook version of EMPIRE'S RIFT in your hands by December of 2016.

FIRST STRETCH GOAL REACHED - Empire's Rift the audio book is now a reality!

We have reached the $5,000 mark, which means we will publish EMPIRE'S RIFT by Steve Rzasa as a digital audio book. Pledge $25 to receive the digital version of EMPIRE'S RIFT the audio book!

NEW STRETCH GOAL ANNOUNCED!

The second novel in the Takamo Universe series is entitled STRIFE’S COST, by Steve Rzasa. The stretch goal for this novel is the $10,000 level, and we are already over halfway there. New perks have been added specifically for this book.

We will add additional stretch goals to raise funds for additional novels in the series. Kevin J. Anderson has also selected John Helfers, who has written 24 novels and published more than 50 short stories in anthologies, for a future Takamo Universe novel.

Join forces with us to finish this project and lay the foundation for an ongoing series of Takamo Universe novels under the “Kevin J. Anderson Presents” format. Belong to a collective of true science fiction fans wanting to see written fiction transform the realm of the video game and vice versa.

As backers, you will also receive your choice of exclusive perks.

The Takamo Universe team and players have been creating and designing games since the early 1980s. Sci fi geekdom is at the very core of the game development team. Who better to create a series of sci fi fiction as a basis for a space game than a team full of seasoned sci fi fans and officiandos?

Kevin J. Anderson has published 125 books, more than fifty of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as steampunk fantasy novels, Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, co-created with Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for the legendary rock group Rush. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, including the Five by Five and Blood Lite series. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press.

Steve Rzasa is the author of the upcoming EMPIRE'S RIFT: A Takamo Universe Novel from WordFire Press (Kevin Anderson Presents), along with several novels of science-fiction, steampunk, and fantasy—with a bunch more in progress. He was first published in 2009 by Marcher Lord Press (now Enclave Publishing). His third novel, Broken Sight, received the 2012 Award for Speculative Fiction from the American Christian Fiction Writers. Steve grew up in Atco, New Jersey, and started writing stories in grade school. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University, and worked for eight years at newspapers in Maine and Wyoming. He’s been a librarian since 2008, most recently earning his Library Support Staff Certification from the American Library Association in 2014—one of only 135 graduates nationwide and a handful in Wyoming. He is the technical services librarian in Buffalo, Wyoming, where he lives with his wife and two boys. Steve’s a fan of all things science-fiction and superhero, and is also a student of history. Find out more about Steve at www.steverzasa.com

John Helfers is a full-time freelance writer and editor, and the president of Stonehenge Editorial, an editorial/literary project management company. He’s written 24 novels, and published more than 50 short stories in anthologies such as Space! and Robots! (Origins, Inc.), Risk Takers and Last Stand (WMG Publishing), and Shattered Shields (Baen Books). He has also overseen the production of the most recent Valdemar anthologies for Mercedes Lackey (No True Way and Crucible), Esther Friesner (Chicks & Balances) and the Mystery Writers of America (Manhattan Mayhem, edited by Mary Higgins Clark). His media tie-in fiction has appeared in anthologies, game books, and novels for the Dragonlance®, Transformers®, BattleTech®, Shadowrun®, Warlock II® and Golem Arcana® universes. His original fiction includes the novel Unnatural, A Caste Magic novel published by Silence in the Library. Currently he is the Novel Line Developer for Catalyst Game Labs, and oversees producing new short fiction and novels in both the BattleTech® and Shadowrun® game universes. Find out more about him and his work at www.johnhelfers.net.

Risks and challenges

Our major challenge is ensuring that the stretch goals are funded so that we can continue the series. Empire’s Rift has been written as a stand-alone novel that keeps the door open for sequels and sister novels. It would be great to see this series continue.

UNIQUE CHALLENGES IF FUNDED
If the funding goal is met, Empire’s Rift will publish and ship in December 2016, if not sooner. We do not foresee any risks and challenges with completing Empire’s Rift’s publication and distribution. We may have a very busy December, but that will be a good thing!

CURRENT PROJECTS AND REWARD TIMELINE
Once we reach our funding goal, we can work on distributing rewards immediately!

Obviously, our other main project is the development of Takamo Universe, which is not yet available to the public. The original game, Takamo, is currently only available to former Takamo players by invitation only.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $300 or more
About $300

I’ll be Right There

Along with four other backers, you will be invited to an exclusive Skype meet and greet with Steve Rzasa and Kevin J. Anderson. You will also receive a paperback copy of EMPIRE'S RIFT autographed by Steve Rzasa and Kevin J. Anderson.